Comparing the Gauder Akustik Capello Family
Gauder Akustik has built a reputation for a coherent design philosophy that runs through the Capello line, and this guide walks you through three related pieces so you can find the right fit for your room and your system. What ties the loudspeakers together is a shared engineering approach: XPulse cone bass and midrange drivers, an aluminum tweeter that can be upgraded to beryllium, and an ultra-steep symmetrical crossover with Time Delay Control (TDC) that is designed to keep the drivers working together in time. The Double Vision (DV) models add finely selected Mundorf crossover components, upgraded internal wiring, and top WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges. All of these are made in Germany.
Specifications compared
| Specification | Capello 40 | Capello 80 DV | Capello 100 DV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | — | Passive floorstanding loudspeaker | — |
| Design | Closed 2-way shelf/compact loudspeaker; 2-way monitor and shelf speaker in a closed, acoustically optimized enclosure. | 2 1/2-way floorstanding loudspeaker; downward-ventilated, acoustically optimized bass reflex enclosure with bass-midrange driver in closed construction | 3-way bass reflex loudspeaker; 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker, downward-vented acoustically optimized bass reflex enclosure with closed mid-high unit |
| Driver Configuration | XPulse cone bass/mid driver with aluminum tweeter (upgradeable to beryllium) | — | 3-way, 4 drivers: one aluminium tweeter, one 7" aluminium-polymer XPulse midrange driver and two 7" XPulse bass drivers |
| Tweeter | Hand-selected high-resolution aluminium tweeter; upgradeable to beryllium. The beryllium version uses a 25 mm beryllium dome. | Hand-selected high-resolution aluminium tweeter; upgradeable to beryllium | Hand-selected high-resolution aluminium tweeter; upgradeable to beryllium |
| Crossover | Symmetrical crossover equipped with Mundorf components, 60 dB/octave slope, with TDC (Time Delay Control) | Symmetrical crossover equipped with Mundorf components, 60 dB/octave slope, with TDC (Time Delay Control) | Symmetrical crossover equipped with Mundorf components, 60 dB/octave slope, with TDC (Time Delay Control); 56 individual components |
| Frequency Response | — | — | 27-30,000 Hz |
| Nominal Impedance | 4 Ohm | 4 Ohm | 4 Ohm |
| Cabinet | Drop-shaped (teardrop cross-section), made in Germany | Drop-shaped (teardrop cross-section) | Drop-shaped (teardrop cross-section) |
| Finishes | Black and white piano lacquer; olive and walnut optionally available at no extra charge | Black and white high-gloss piano lacquer; olive and walnut optionally available | Black and white high-gloss piano lacquer; olive and walnut optionally available |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 24 x 39 x 34 cm (9.45 x 15.35 x 13.39 in) | 25 x 109 x 42 cm (9.84 x 42.91 x 16.54 in) | 25 x 114 x 42 cm (9.84 x 44.88 x 16.54 in) |
| Weight | 10 kg (22.0 lb) - manufacturer states 10 kg | 24 kg (52.9 lb) - manufacturer states 24 kg | 28 kg (61.7 lb) - manufacturer states 28 kg |
| Amplification | Requires a separate amplifier | Requires a separate amplifier (passive) | Requires a separate amplifier (passive) |
| Bass Extension | Adjustable Bass Extension, adjustable in 6 steps between 30 and 70 Hz (jumper-protected socket for Bass Extension modules) | Variable Bass Extension, adjustable in 6 steps between 30 and 70 Hz | Variable Bass Extension, adjustable in 6 steps between 30 and 70 Hz |
| Bass Level Adjustment | — | Triple bass volume adjustment, in three levels from -1.5 dB to +1.5 dB | Triple bass adjustment, in three levels from -1.5 dB to +1.5 dB |
| Bass/Mid Driver | Black XPulse woofer/midrange driver - 14 cm cone with a polypropylene-aluminium sandwich membrane (per the manufacturer-hosted SoundRebels review) | — | — |
| Bass/Mid Drivers | — | Black XPulse bass/midrange drivers | — |
| Bass/Midrange Drivers | — | XPulse cone drivers | XPulse cone drivers |
| Crossover Points | — | — | 144/3400 |
| Double Vision Upgrades | Finely selected Mundorf crossover components, upgraded internal wiring, top WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges | — | Finely selected Mundorf crossover components, upgraded internal wiring, top WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges |
| DV Upgrade Package | — | Finely selected Mundorf crossover components, upgraded internal wiring, top WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges | — |
| Efficiency | — | — | 90 db (manufacturer's own wording and capitalisation, from the Gauder/Axiss Audio spec sheet; no measurement distance or drive voltage is stated) |
| Impulse Power Handling | — | — | 500 watts |
| Internal Wiring | Clearwater internal wiring | Clearwater internal wiring | Clearwater internal wiring |
| Line | — | — | Capello Double Vision (DV) |
| Origin | Made in Germany (Renningen) | Made in Germany | Made in Germany |
| Power Handling | 100 W | 190 W | — |
| Range | — | Capello Double Vision (DV) | — |
| Recommended minimum amp power | — | — | 35 watts |
| Sine Power Handling | — | — | 300 watts |
| Spikes | — | Spike extender bars as standard | Spike extender bar as standard |
| Stands | Speaker stand optionally available (full functionality is only achieved on the dedicated stands, which use a bolted mount with soft padding whose clamping force affects the sound) | — | — |
| Terminals | WBT NextGen connection terminals, double/bi-wiring (Double Vision spec adds rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges) | BiWiring terminal with WBT NextGen binding posts (Double Vision spec adds rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges) | BiWiring terminal with WBT NextGen binding posts (Double Vision spec adds rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges) |
| Treble Adjustment | Triple tweeter volume adjustment, in a range of +/-1.5 dB | — | — |
One important note up front: the Capello 40 in this comparison is a dedicated stand rather than a loudspeaker, so think of it as the foundation for its matching stand mount monitor rather than an alternative to the floorstanders. With that clarified, here is how the three pieces relate to one another.
The Models Compared
Gauder Akustik Capello 40
The Capello 40 DV is the stand mount of the range, not a floorstander. It puts the same closed 2-way design, XPulse bass and mid driver, aluminium tweeter and ultra steep symmetrical crossover into a compact drop-shaped cabinet of 24 x 39 x 34 cm. Because it is a stand mount it needs the matching Capello 40 aluminium stands, which are sized to it rather than universal, to sit at the right listening height and couple rigidly to the floor. Budget for the stands as part of the speaker.
Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV
The Capello 80 DV is a passive floorstanding loudspeaker from the Capello Double Vision range, and it sits as the more compact of the two floorstanders here. It uses XPulse cone bass and midrange drivers, an aluminum tweeter that is upgradeable to beryllium, and the ultra-steep symmetrical crossover with Time Delay Control. As a DV model it carries the finely selected Mundorf crossover components, upgraded internal wiring, and top WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges, all housed in a drop-shaped (teardrop cross-section) cabinet. It requires a separate amplifier.
Gauder Akustik Capello 100 DV
The Capello 100 DV is the larger passive multi-way floorstander in this comparison, built on the same Double Vision philosophy. It shares the XPulse cone drivers, the aluminum tweeter upgradeable to beryllium, and the ultra-steep symmetrical crossover with Time Delay Control, along with the DV package of Mundorf crossover components, upgraded internal wiring, and WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges. Like the 80 DV it uses the drop-shaped cabinet and requires a separate amplifier, positioning it as the flagship-oriented choice within this trio for those who want the fuller floorstanding presentation.
Which Should You Buy by Scenario
I want a stand mount setup for a smaller or nearfield space
If you choose the Capello 40 DV, add the matching Capello 40 aluminium stands. They are sized to that speaker rather than universal, and they set the listening height and floor coupling the design assumes. A stand mount on the right stands is a different proposition from a floorstander, not a lesser one: it trades ultimate bass extension for placement flexibility and pinpoint imaging.
I have a medium room and want a full-range floorstander without overwhelming it
The Capello 80 DV is the sensible floorstanding choice here, since it is the more compact of the two DV floorstanders while still delivering the XPulse drivers, the ultra-steep symmetrical crossover with Time Delay Control, and the full Double Vision upgrade package. Its drop-shaped cabinet and Double Vision internals give you the family sound in a footprint suited to a medium space.
I have a larger room and want the fullest presentation in this lineup
Step up to the Capello 100 DV, the larger multi-way floorstander that shares the same Double Vision engineering as the 80 DV while positioning itself as the flagship-oriented option in this trio. It carries the same XPulse drivers, TDC crossover, Mundorf components, and WBT terminals, so you are getting more of the same design philosophy in a bigger floorstanding package.
I want the option to upgrade my tweeter over time
Both the Capello 80 DV and the Capello 100 DV are strong choices, because each uses an aluminum tweeter that is upgradeable to beryllium, letting you start with one voicing and evolve it later. This flexibility is part of what unites the two DV floorstanders in this comparison.
I care about premium connection and crossover parts out of the box
Either Double Vision floorstander delivers this, since both the 80 DV and the 100 DV include finely selected Mundorf crossover components, upgraded internal wiring, and top WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges. Your decision then comes down to room size and how much floorstanding scale you want rather than parts quality.
A Note on Matching and the Rest of the System
Both the Capello 80 DV and Capello 100 DV are passive designs, so they require a separate amplifier, and the WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges give you flexibility in how you cable them. Because these speakers use an ultra-steep symmetrical crossover with Time Delay Control, careful setup and placement help the drop-shaped cabinets deliver their intended imaging, and the dedicated Capello 40 aluminium stands serve the same purpose for the Capello 40 DV by fixing it at the correct listening height. We are happy to talk through amplifier pairing and placement with you based on your room.
Come Listen at AEA
The best way to choose between the Capello 40 DV on its stands, the Capello 80 DV and the Capello 100 DV is to hear them in person, so we invite you to visit the All Elite Audio showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate, so please reach out ahead of your visit to confirm what is currently set up for listening.